Round The World and other travels
A frequent flyer's collection of trip diaries
This is: Round The World 2006-07
Climate Change!
I woke up still very much suffering from my cold, yet aware for the
first time that I now just about had it worried. The effects would
no doubt take time to disappear, but it was beaten. I had another
room service breakfast before venturing out for a final walk in the
snow. The conditions were wonderful : the previous evening's fresh
snowfall and the lack of people on this President's Day Holiday
morning combined to give a winter wonderland effect. The fresh snow
had that satisfying crisp, powdery feel underfoot - try walking in
fresh snow at home and you usually end up with wet feet and ruined
shoes
My objective for this relatively
short walk was a return visit to the Jefferson Memorial, which had
been undergoing restoration in the summer of 2005. Close to the
memorial, I had the misfortune to slip on a patch of ice and fell
I'm sure you can imagine that split second
when you know you're going and there just isn't anything you can do
about it. No lasting damage to body, pride or camera, thankfully,
but it was enough to leave me hobbling about for the next couple of
days, which wasn't much fun when there was luggage to be moved or
cars to get in and out of. Anyway, it didn't put me off seeing the
memorial, which was all the more impressive for the relative lack of
tourists. I helped an oriental man to his feet just before I left,
realising that I was not alone in being accident-prone on this
beautiful, but somewhat treacherous, morning.
Back at The WIllard, it didn't take me long to pack my things, have a last wistful look around and take my leave until next time. The cab seemed to take no time at all to reach the conveniently located Reagan National Airport. I checked in for my flight and made my way through security. I spotted the US Airways Lounge and realised that, even though I'd credited the flight to my bmi account, I was still in possession of my Lufthansa Star Gold card, in its last few days of validity. I had the means to gain entry! I spent the time there catching up on this diary and headed to the gate in good time for the start of boarding.
(Link to flight log in side panel)
On arrival at Fort Myers, it was a relatively easy business to pick
up my rental car, a rather nice Saturn Aura. (Shame it was stinking
of cigarette smoke, though
) While completing the formalities, there was one of those classic
snippets of conversation. As the people next to me were leaving, my
agent leaned over to theirs and said "What's with the bandanas?"
"They're from California," came the reply, to which my agent
retorted : "That's all that needs to be said"
I had no trouble at all finding my way to my latest accommodation, soon realising that I had driven most of the route before, on a previous trip. How odd, after Washington, to need to use the car's air conditioning, albeit on an intermittent basis. I settled into the Doubletree Naples, having dinner at the adjacent Chinese restaurant.
